“Just listening and re-listening to Smiley Smile and I’m wondering if this is some kind of creative drought / Because I’m lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.”
Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 (Commentary Teaser, Live at Berklee College of Music Master Class, March 11, 2011)
by John Mayer
album 2011-03-11: Berklee Master Class
John Mayer
Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967 (Commentary Teaser)
2011-03-11: Berklee College of Music Master Class
Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967 (Commentary Teaser)
2011-03-11: Berklee College of Music Master Class
Around this time last year, I was lucky enough to be a part of John Mayer’s master class at Berklee College of Music which took place after his clinic at the BPC. In the first hour of the class, he mentioned that he was writing a song called “Submarine Test, 1967.” At the end of the night, when he was trying to decide what new songs to play for us, I blurted out, “What about the submarine one?” like a jackass. In retrospect, I’m extremely glad I did.
John said, “I want the first time people hear it to be on the record,” so I’m only posting his commentary before/after the song and I’m not going to post the actual tune. It’s hands down the best song that I’ve heard so far from Born and Raised, and it’ll be worth the wait. Hopefully this little snippet will generate some more buzz for the album which is scheduled to be released on May 22nd.
A letter to my grandfather, 1945.
Dudes
by David Mead
album Dudes
Please support the incredible David Mead buy buying his new album which I (very loosely) helped produce. Trust me, you’ll be singing these songs in the shower for the rest of your life.
I’ve been thinking about which of my goals are realistic and achievable and which ones need to be put on hold.. so in short, trying to figure out who I want to be. If I’d been dealt a perfect hand, I’d model myself after Jeff Buckley. I would love to get up in front of people every night in tiny New York clubs and coffeehouses - just me and an electric guitar - and sing old jazz standards in glistening falsetto. But if anyone else could even come close to imitating Jeff, it would have been done already, and my voice is so deep and round that trying to sing like Jeff Buckley is nearly impossible. I’ve tried to convince myself that it’s not, but I think it might be time to admit defeat and begin to make the best of the low, thin vocal range that I was given. I suppose I’ve been too stubborn.. it would be great if I could sing like Jeff or Martin Sexton or David Mead, but I’d get a hell of a lot more done if I stopped putting all this effort and time into trying to be someone that I’m not and learned to use and be comfortable with the voice that I do have.
“Dream your dreams, but don’t pretend. Make friends with what you are.” ~JCM
